Tuesday, July 28, 2009

This would be my 200th post and for those who havnt caught up with the news ,I'am 20 weeks pregnant. It's a BOY!!!......

Am loving this whole pregnancy thing.....Getting as much sleep/food as you want, getting all kind of attention from my dear hubby/parents, with the baby moving inside once in a couple of hours, feeling happy looking over and over at the ultrasound pictures, haaa all that is a real fun one shouldnt miss.

First of all, It was a planned one. I found out that I was pregnant on April 18th '09 with a home-pregnancy kit. This just happened two days before my 25th B'day ie: April 20th. I was just 6 weeks then. Not knowing this,Just a couple of weeks earlier I invited over few common friends(around 12) to my place for my B'day(it was on 19th evening). Me and my hubby were so excited about this pregnancy thing and planned to tell our parents on my B'day. The evening went well with all the ladies chit-chatting inside and men BBq'ing in the patio. I couldn't stop thinking over to tell my parents while i was with them. I didn't want them to know about this before our parents knew. Later had our dinner..The menu was: My BBQ chicken, Grilled CornCob, Haldirams snack pack, My Bagara rice, My Palakura pappu,My Kadhai Bhindi, Hubby's Awesome Chicken curry, Hubby's Mutton Curry, My Pappu Charu, Hubby's Raita, My Fruit Salad . A few hours later,around 12' O clock i cut a cake. They all left after half-an-hour and I was eagerly waiting for my parents call .We couldn't sleep till 2 in the morning.I thought maybe they would call and wish me in the morning. But they didn't. It was sooo frustrating.We both went to the temple and had dinner along another couple at PFchang. Again I was waiting for their call....i couldnt sleep....unable to withhold my emotions, i made a call at around 10.30PM . It was my brother this time. It was 11.00Am in India.

Bro:Hello!! Haa Akka tell me...How r u?? Happy B'day akka!!!

Me:Thank you!! Hey how stupid you guys dont even care to call me even though u remember it was my B'day...Wheres maa and daddy???Give them the phone.

Bro:Maa and daddy both are sleeping. I will ask them to give a call in the morning. Ok.

Me: What???Sleeping at this time of the day??? Comeon no prb if they are sleeping...Wake them up...

After few seconds.....

Bro: Maa said she will talk to you later...she's in deep sleep.And daddy too.

I didnt believe what he was saying...I felt sth was going on....i could hear my maa talking to dad.

Me: No problem...comeon dont try to fool me ...i know she is fine...i could hear her and dad over the phone..

Her words made me think...whats going on???I couldnt say anything else except for hanging up without sharing the wonderful news with them..We both were quite worried thinking of what might have happened. Two days passed. There were no calls from both the sides. At last I called my mom thinking everythig might have been ok. But there was no to answer. I was even more worried. After two days my mom called me.

Me: Hello maa..where have u guys been???i tried to call you several times. Arn't you at home??

Maa: Haa raju...we wen to your grandpa's(mom's dad) village for 2 days. Everybody(my uncles/aunts) gathered there aftera very long time. just for a change.

Me: Why was that all of a sudden??? You've been there last month too right...

Maa: haa but this time everone was coming over...so thought this would be good. thats it. So hows everything?? how's R??

Dad:Hello R......(they cover everything from politics,current market trends, housing market to movies)At last he cracks the goodnews to my dad...Both of us talked to mom and dad for around 20-25 mins. They were happy about this...immediately R calls our in-laws to share the same news....They were even more excited about this...Finally I was totally relieved of this burden.

But exactly after 2 weeks i came to know that my Uncle's(moms elder bro) Younger daughter kiran had passed away on 19th. She was diagnosed in May '08 with some kind of cancer at the age of 22, just months after her marriage. Doctors wer'nt sure what it was. A small spreadable lump was developing on her back ,which got even worse after repeated operations.Even after several chemotheraphy sittings we couldnt get her back. I still couldnt imagine she left us all. Whenever I think of her I always get the feeling that she's living happily just as everyone of us are.

Friday, July 24, 2009

This was something I was thinking of to make ever since I saw Srivalli's laddoo. I bookmarked it so that i could try whenever I crave for something sweet. So finally today felt like giving it a shot as I wanted to offer something on this first Sravana shukravaram(friday).I didnt know making ladoo would be such a fun and easy job.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Dosakai/Round Indian Yellow Cucumber---------2 cut into medium size pieces separating the seedsNote: Seeds to be mixed with 1/2cup water and squeezed enough to extract the sourness. This water used instead of tamarind to get sour taste to the dish

Jalapenos---------------------------------------------3-4

Onion-------------------------------------------------1/2 of medium one chopped

1.Peel the skin of cucumber, Cut in half, Scoop off the excess seeds(can use few in dal), Cut to medium to big sized pieces(taste a small piece to see if bitter).

2. In a Pressure cooker cook the dal with 2 cups of water, turmeric,Jalepenos until soft for 2-3 whistles.3.Add 3 tbp of oil and add Cumin seeds,Mustard seeds, dry red chillis, Garlic ,curry leaves and saute for a mins.

3.Now add chopped onions ,little salt and saute for 3-5mins ,then add cut pieces,chopped tomatoes and cook until its not raw with some salt .

4.Add the cooked dal, water extracted from seeds, chopped coriander and cook on medium flame till the pieces are thoroughly cooked for 7-8mins. The dal tastes good if the pieces are not cooked till soft .

NOTE: If Dosekai is bitter theres no chance of using it in the dal. select ones that are not mature and soft enough.They become quite soggy when cooked.

There are two ways of cooking this dal: 1. Pressure cook dal and cucumber together with rest of the ingredients. Sometimes the cucumber becomes too soft and hard to find them in the dal.

2.Cook Cucumber and tomatoes with some salt till 3/4th cooked, then add in the pressure cooked dal+rest of ingredients, and and simmer low for 8-10 mins. This way i can see and taste some cucumber in the dal

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

INGREDIENTS:Okra-------------------------------20-25 freshOnion-----------------------------1 sliced thinlyJalapenos-------------------------2 chopped finelyDry Red chillies-------------------2Garlic------------------------------3 pods crushedCumin&Mustard Seeds-----------1/2 tsp eachOil----------------------------------2 tbpFor stuffing:Chana dal-------------------------1/3 cup of standard measuring cup(dry roast)Coconut powder------------------2 tbpCumin Seeds---------------------1 tbp roastedGarlic------------------------------3 pods roastedRed chilli powder-----------------1-1/2tspCoriander powder----------------1 tbpGaram Masala--------------------1/2 tspLemon juice-----------------------1 tbpOil----------------------------------2 tbpDIRECTIONS:1.Wash okra , dry with paper towel and make a slit in the middle and keep aside.2.Grind all the ingredients under ' For stuffing' section to a powder( except oil and lemon juice ).After making a powder transfer 2/3rd powder to a small mixing bowl and add oil and lemon juice and mix well.3.Add some water if required to make a smoothe paste and stuff each okra with it and Place all the stuffed okras in a steamer or idli plates. Cook them for 8-10 min.4.Now heat oil in a wide pan ,add cumin seeds , musturd seeds , dry red chillis , garlic , green chillis and onions.5.Sautee till onions are cooked for like 5-8 min and then add steamed okras.Cook them without lid ,on low flame for 15 min until well roasted.6.Keep mixing in between .Finally sprinkle the remaining 1/3rd of the stuffing powder,some salt , mix well and cook for another 5 min.7.Turn off ,serve hot with roti , or rice.

1.Marinate the Chicken in Chilli powder,Turmeric, Ginger-garlic paste, Salt for about 30 mins.

2.While the chicken pieces are marinating, make the powder as per the ingredients listed under the first section and set aside.

3.Heat 2 tbsps of oil and add the onions and saute till done for about 8 mins on medium heat. Then add the coarsely chopped tomatoes and let it cook for 8-10 mins.Turn off heat. Cool , grind and Keep aside.

4. Heat 3 tbsps oil and add the marinated chicken and cook on high flame for 6-8 minutes, then reduce the heat and cook covered for another 6-8 minutes.

5. Now add the ground paste, ground powder,enough salt and combine well. Add 1-1/2 cup of water or more and cook covered.

6.Cook till chicken pieces are done and you get the desired curry consistency.Turn off and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

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Hello food lovers,

Thanks for supporting me with ur interest and making it a success.I have and will always post the dishes that were tried and tasted well to my family.I have few things to say before you start making the dish from this blog..